World AIDS Day is a time to look back on all the progress we have made battling HIV/AIDS—but this day also serves as a solemn reminder of how much is still left to be done to fight an epidemic that is responsible for over 770,000 deaths and 1.7 million new HIV infections every year
LOS ANGELES (November 28, 2019) To commemorate World AIDS Day 2019, observed on Dec. 1st, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is organizing inclusive events, commemorations and observances throughout many of the 43 countries where AHF operates during the week surrounding the formal commemoration. AHF will once again use these World AIDS Day events and gatherings as moments to call on world leaders to “Keep the Promise” to all people affected by HIV/AIDS.
As always, AHF staff – along with governmental and civil society partners – will be present at many events across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the U.S. to provide free HIV testing, distribute free LOVE condoms and to host interactive educational and awareness sessions on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and related health topics.
“Coming off a successful Sixth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in October, we’d like to think we’re getting on the right track to defeat the epidemic,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “But donor countries should not stop there and do all they can to help the Fund reach the eighteen-billion-dollar mark before the next Replenishment.”
“The money is obviously important; but Keeping the Promise on AIDS also means having accurate data to know the ground truth in individual countries and globally, so we know where to better target our efforts,” added Weinstein. “We can see the end of AIDS, but it will take the entire global health community, governments and civil society working together smartly to make it possible.”
According to the most recent UNAIDS statistics, 37.9 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world, and in 2018 alone, 1.7 million people became newly infected with HIV and 770,000 died from AIDS-related causes. While millions of people today are accessing lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, millions more still desperately need it.
Please visit KeepThePromiseOnAIDS.org to view a full list of AHF’s U.S. and international World AIDS Day events or visit www.ahfwad.org for domestic U.S. event!
